First things first, one on the main sites I wanted to visit here in the area was Chimney Rock. This historic Site near the city of Baynard is backed with history. It was one of the major land marks used by settlers traveling West on The Oregon Trail on the North Platte River. After traveling for many months on the trail the rock formations in the area offered a visual relief to the hundreds and hundreds of miles of flat plain terrain the settlers had been seeing. The spire of Chimney Rock stands 286 feet above the valley. This dose not sound very tall at all, but you can see it for many miles and it is a great site.
Our second rock formation to visit was Scotts Bluff. Our camp site in Gering lies at the base of The National Park at Scotts Bluff. We are able to see the bluffs out of the windows of our RV. Scotts Bluff is also part of The Oregon Trail. It is estimated that some 350,000 people joined the Westward migration between 1841 - 1869 and they all passed through this area. These settlers traveling in their oxen drawn wagons travelled between 8 - 15 miles a day. Can you imagine that? I can't. When greeted at the gate to the park, we were reminded that this is rattle snake county and not to venture off the trails. That was enough convincing for me. The rock formations are composed of siltstone, volcanic ash, sandstone and caprock. Since the top layer is composed of caprock, it has protected the upper layer form erosion. I am a rock person and enjoyed visiting the park and looking out at the summit to the valley areas of farmland and towns below.
One of the fun things we were able to attend in the area was a Soap Box Race at Scotts Bluff on Saturday morning. The races were being held as part of the celebration for the 125th year anniversary for the city of Gering. The races have not taken place in the park since 1951, so it was a part of history to attend. The races began in 1936, just 3 years after the summit park road was completed. It was fun to walk around and talk to the kids that were drivers in the race. Some of them have been competing for 2 to 3 years. The cars must not exceed a weight of 200 lbs. including the driver. Most cars have metal weights adhered to the frame to aid in pushing the cars down a hill and meet the 200 lb. weight. There were 2 classes competing in the race, Stock are for ages 7 to 11 and Super Stock up to the age of 16. Both boys and girls were competing in the races and there was some good racing competition.
One of the most unique things we visited was the lighthouse at Lake Miniature. It is the only lighthouse in Nebraska and one of only seven inland lighthouses in the US. The structure is five stories tall and overlooks Lake Miniature. This was the most narrow spiral staircase that we have ever climbed. It was so tight at the top that you almost had to turn sideway just to climb.
On Saturday night we attended a concert of a Forth Worth native, The Casey Donahew Band. His style of country music is very down home.
Tomorrow we are headed north again spending two day at Ft Robinson, Ne.
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